Unit 3 Vocab Flashcards

1
Q

When parties redraw district lines to gain an advantage over other parties.

A

Gerrymandering

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2
Q

The process of drawing district lines to pack in opponents like cattle into as few districts as possible; decreases opponent’s voter strength & influence

A

Packing

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3
Q

Taking one district & cracking it into several pieces; spreads voters out among many districts. denying opponent a lot of votes

A

Cracking

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4
Q

When two reps from one party are made to compete against each other for the leadership in one district

A

Kidnapping

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5
Q

Determine the population in the U.S.

A

Census

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6
Q

Divide or organize (an area) into new political districts.

A

Redistricting

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7
Q

Redistribution of representation in a legislative body, especially the periodic reallotment of U.S. Congressional seats according to the changes in the census figures as required by the Constitution.

A

Reapportionment

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8
Q

Grants congress the power to pass all laws necessary & proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers

A

Elastic Clause

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9
Q

Congress controls the purse strings; they dole out the money

A

Power of the Purse

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10
Q

Power to investigate/review bureaucratic agencies and bureaus to ensure they are implementing the laws as intended.

A

Oversight

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11
Q

Total amount of money that U.S. owes

A

Debt

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12
Q

Spend less than you earn; extra funds

A

Surplus

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13
Q

Spend more than you earn; excess spending

A

Deficit

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14
Q

When all senators agree

A

Unanimous Consent

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15
Q

When senators talk non-stop to stall the debate

A

Filibuster

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16
Q

When Senate votes to end debate over bill with a 2/3 vote

A

Cloture vote

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17
Q

Mandatory spending; spending that doesn’t have to be approved by congress every year-(social security, medicare/medicaid, unemployment, disability)

A

Entitlements

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18
Q
  • Most powerful person in the House
  • Leader of the majority party
  • Allows people to speak on the floor
  • Assigns bills to committees
  • Influences which bills are brought to a vote
  • Appoints members of special and select
    committees
A

Speaker of the House

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19
Q

Q: Do states have to redraw their boundaries after each census?
Yes, states must, as accurately as possible, demonstrate shifts in population and fairly develop redistricting schemes. Districts must be equal in size/population - “one man, one vote”

A

Baker v Carr

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20
Q

Q: Is racial gerrymandering constitutional?
Racial gerrymandering was unconstitutional as the only factor; must use race + other factors to gerrymander

A

Shaw v Reno

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21
Q

Spending that automatically carries over from year to year, congress does not need to approve; includes entitlements (social security, medicare/Medicaid, unemployment, disability)

A

Mandatory Spending

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22
Q

Spending congress must approve every year; includes military and non-military spending

A

Discretionary Spending

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23
Q

Allowed voters to directly elect senators

A

17th amendment

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24
Q

Allows members of Congress to exchange votes, bills might pass for frivolous reasons.

A

logrolling

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25
Q

This reserves a portion of spending for a pet project like a bridge to nowhere. Congress-persons often anonymously add these & add them in conference (skipping most of the
legislative process).

A

earmark

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26
Q

Does not permit amendments from the floor

A

Closed Rule

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27
Q

Permits amendments from the floor

A

Open Rule

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28
Q
  • Initiate revenue bills
  • Impeach federal officials
  • Elect the president in case of an electoral college tie
A

House Sole Powers

29
Q
  • Conduct impeachment trials
  • Consents to ratification of treaties by 2/3 supermajority vote
  • Vote & confirm appointments of President
A

Senate Sole Powers

30
Q

Schedules the House floor legislative calendar and directs management for all House committees

A

House Majority leader

31
Q

Works to promote the party and works against the majority party’s agenda; loyal opposition

A

H/S Minority leader

32
Q

Schedules the Senator floor legislative calendar and direct management for all House committees

A

Senate Majority leader

33
Q

Committees in charge of entitlements and taxes

A

H Ways & Means Comm./S Finance Comm.

34
Q

Committees in charge of discretionary spending

A

H/S Appropriations Committees

35
Q

Takes work from H/S appropriations committees & H ways/means committee + S finance committee and creates budget

A

H/S Budget Committee

36
Q

Helps President make budget

A

OMB

37
Q

Withdrawing unanimous consent/temporary stops

A

Holds

38
Q

Idea that the budget will increase by a certain amount each year

A

Incrementalism

39
Q

Coordinate ideas on, and garner support for proposed legislation.

A

Majority Whip

40
Q

Coordinates the party in response to legislative matters

A

Minority Whip

41
Q
  • Name recognition
  • Media Coverage: Greater for incumbents
  • Fund raising advantage_Winner=$ most spent
  • Proven track record- CASEWORK / PORK
  • FRANKING privileges – free mailing
  • GERRYMANDERING (390/435)
A

Incumbent advantages

42
Q

2-year terms

A

House of Representatives

43
Q

6-year terms

A

Senate

44
Q

Number of members in House of Representatives

A

435

45
Q

Number of members in Senate

A

100

46
Q

They feel duty-bound to vote in line with the party platform and the wishes of their party’s leaders

A

Partisans Theory

47
Q

Agents of those who elected them. Believe that they should vote the way they think “the folks back home” would want.

A

Delegate Theory

48
Q

Believe that each question they face must be decided on its merits. Conscience and independent judgement are their guide.

A

Trustee Theory

49
Q

Combine the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles. They balance both their constituents and party lines.

A

Politico Theory

50
Q

subject matter committees that handle bills in different policy areas (OVERSIGHT)

A

Standing Committees

51
Q

resolve differences in House and Senate bills

A

Conference Committees

52
Q
  • Minimum of 25 years of age
  • U.S. citizen for 7 years
  • Resident of the state they represent
A

House Requirements

53
Q

Minimum of 30 years of age
U.S. citizen for 9 years
Resident of the state they represent

A

Senate Requirements

54
Q

a few subject-matter areas—membership drawn from House and Senate

A

Joint Committees

55
Q

Allows bills to skip the committee process; simple majority; rarely used

A

Discharge Petition

56
Q

About the legislative branch and its powers

A

Article I

57
Q

Having two branches or houses (like the legislative branch/congress)

A

Bicameral

58
Q

States that congress has the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce

A

Commerce Clause

59
Q

-Declare War
-To raise and support armies
-To provide and maintain a navy
-To provide for organizing the militia

A

War Powers

60
Q

-To lay and collect taxes, duties to pay debt
-To borrow $
-To regulate interstate and foreign commerce (AKA- Commerce Clause)
-To coin $
-Punish counterfeiting

A

Financial Powers

61
Q

-To establish rules of naturalization
-To establish post offices
-To establish and enforce patents
-To define and punish piracy and other crimes against the nation- TREASON
-Establish courts

A

Governmental Powers

62
Q
  • This is where most work is done SMALLER/SPECIALIZED; Here, all bills are researched, revised, and voted on
    -This is where most bills die (90% of bills never get out of committee)
  • Have GATEKEEPING AUTHORITY; PROPOSAL POWER
A

Committee Importance (Bill-law)

62
Q

Once bill is approved by both House & Senate, it is then sent to President where he/she can sign it into law, veto it (congess can override veto with 2/3 vote), or sit on it.

A

President Importance (Bill-law)

63
Q

In the House, the top committee slots are effectively decided by the Republican and Democratic party leadership along with seniority and preference; majority party controls the most significant leadership positions.

A

Political Party Importance (Bill-law)

64
Q
  • Function as a traffic cop for bills coming out of committee
  • Provide rules for the debate
  • Schedule bill on calendar, allot time for debate, and specify what kind of amendments may be offered
A

Rules Committee (House)

65
Q
  1. Bill is introduced to either House or Senate (unless $ bill-start in House)
  2. Bill is sent to committee where most of the work is done-bills are researched, revised, and voted on
  3. After committees approve of it, it is sent to full H/S floor where it is debated & voted on
  4. If bill is passed, it is sent to other house where it undergoes the same process
  5. Once bill passes both houses, if each house has a different form of bill, then it sent to conference committee to be compromised
  6. Once same bill passes both houses, then it is sent to President to be signed into law, vetoed, or sat on
A

Rules of Law-making (Bill-law)

66
Q

Districts

A

House constituencies

67
Q

States

A

Senate constituencies